Carton with carrier handle



J. H. NUTE ETAL 3,076,591

CARTON WITH CARRIER HANDLE Filed Feb. 9, 1961 Feb. 5, 1963 s Jky H.MLZ'IEVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,076,591 CARTDN WETH CAREERHANDLE Jay H. Note and Jack A. Ring, San Leandro, Calih, as-

signors to The Patent and Licensing Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of Massachusetts Filed Feb. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 83,ii)2 6Ciaims. (Ci. me -s2 This invention relates to cartons, and particularlyto a paperboard carton of the type provided with a handle for enablingthe carton to be carried.

Paperboard cartons for canned goods and other articles have, in recentyears, been provided with carrying handles of various forms.

Carrying handles heretofore proposed in cartons of this type have forthe most part been either in the form of strap members requiring extrastock to be utilized as part of the blank from which the carton is made,or in the form of a separately formed strap member secured by variousmeans to the carton.

It has also been hereto-fore proposed to provide cartons with a carryinghandle formed from the glued overlapping portions of the paperboardblank which constitute the top wall of the carton, by providing weakenedlines of separation along those portions, thereby enabling a narrowsection of those portions to be pulled upwardly above the top of thecarton, to serve as the carrying handle.

The carrying handles of paperboard cartons of the characterabove-mentioned entail the use of extra stock, or additional steps ofmanufacture, or the use of paperboard ot" substantial strength, or acombination of these.

In the prior application, Ser. No. 54,771, filed September 8, 1960, byone of the present applicants, there is disclosed and claimed a form ofpaperboard carton provided with a self-contained carrying handle whichovercomes the above-mentioned objections attending the forms of carryinghandles theretofore proposed.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon the invention setforth in my above-identified application, and the present application isa continuation-in-part of said prior application.

It has been found, in actual use of cartons constructed with a carryinghandle according to the invention set forth in said prior application,that in the erected carton, after the same has been filled with itscontents, such as canned goods, the carrying handle lies so fiat as tomake it diflicult for many people to pick up the carton readily by itscarrying handle, or indeed to recognize the presence of the carryinghandle on the carton.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a cartonhaving a built-in or self-contained single thickness carrying handle,constructed so as to enable the handle member automatically to assume,when the folded tubular carton is being erected from the collapsed formin which it is received by the packer of the goods, an upwardly bowedposition so that it may readily be grasped by the fingers when thefilled, closed and sealed carton is to be picked up and carried. Thisupward bowing of the handle member is sufficient to render it readilyvisible and recognizable for its intended purpose, as Well as to enablea customer or other person readily to pick up and carry the filledcarton.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton of the characterreferred to, so constructed that it may be folded into fiat tubular format the place of manufacture for shipment in that flat form to the pointof use, without presenting any annoying extensions or ungluedoverlapping margins which may catch on or otherwise interfere with theoperation of the machinery used by the packer for conveying, anderecting the folded cartons into their set-up form for filling.

' The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention willbe more clearly set forth in the following specification, referencebeing made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank embodying the invention, priorto the folding of the blank into the form in which it may be shipped bythe manufacturer;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective, showing the blank of FIG. 1 after ithas been folded and glued into tubular form for shipment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carton as it appears when set up,filled and closed;

, FIG. 4 is a view in cross-section, taken vertically along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in crosssection, takenalong line 5-5 of H6. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view depicting the manner in which the handle member iscaused to assume its operative position.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates, diagrammatically, a blankfor forming a carton provided with a carrying handle in accordance withthe invention.

The blank, indicated generally by numeral id, is of rectangular outlineand comprises a bottom wall panel 12 and a pair of side wall panels 13and 1 .4, hinged thereto along parallel fold or score lines 15 and 16,respectively. inwardly foldable flaps 18 and 19 are connected with thebottom Wall panel 12 along transverse hinge or score lines 22 and 23,parallel to one another. Likewise, inwardly foldable flaps 2d and 27 areconnected to the side Wall panel 13 along the hinge lines 22 and 23,respectively, and inwardly foldable flaps 28 and 29 are connected toside wall panel 14 along the hinge lines 22 and 23, re spectively.

Terminal panels 30 and 32 of the blank 10 are connected, respectively,by hinge or score lines 31 and 33 to the side wall panels 13 and 14.inwardly foldable flaps $4 and 35 are connected to panel 3% along thescore lines 22 and 23, respectively. Likewise, inwardly foldable fiaps36 and 37 are connected to the panel 32 along the score lines 22 and 23,respectively.

As will be readily understood, when the blank thus formed is foldedalong transverse score lines 15 and 33 (or 16 and 31) so that theterminal panel 39' partially overlaps the terminal panel 32, and theoverlapping portions are glued to one another, the blank will be in thecollapsed or fiat tubular form in which it is shipped by themanufacturer to the user.

The tubular form of the blank may be erected into its carton form withglued flaps 34, 36 and 35, 37, as well as flaps i8, 19 and 26, 27 (or28, 29) folded inwardly in accordance with the conventional practice.The carton may then be filled, and the other set of flaps 28, 29

(or 26, 27) folded and glued to close and seal the carton.

in order to provide the carton with a carrying handle in accordance withthe invention, the end panel 3i), which partially overlaps the oppositeend panel 32 in the folded aoraesr or set-up condition of the carton toconstitute the top wall thereof, is provided near its outer edge with anelongated, relatively wide slot 4d, extending transversely of the panel36 substantially the full width of the latter and with its longitudinalaxis extending preferably parallel to the terminal edge ll of the blank.The transverse dimension of slot 49 may conveniently be about one andonehalf inches, the outermost edge 42 of the slot being disposedinwardly of terminal edge 4-1 a distance which conveniently may be aboutone-half inch. The edges of the slot at each of its opposite ends areprefe'asly of slightly curved outline as indicated at 43, and these endsof the slot are disposed substantially along or slightly outward of thefold lines 22 and 23-.

End panel 32, which is partially overlapped by panel 30 in the fiatfolded form of the carton, is formed with a relatively narrow, elongatedslot extending transversely of the panel 32 substantially the full widthof the latter and with its longitudinal axis extending preferablyparallel to the terminal edge 51 of the blank. The transverse dimensionof slot 53 may conveniently be about onequarter inch, and its outermostlongitudinal edge 52 is disposed inwardly of terminal edge 51 a distancewhich conveniently may be about one inch, but which in any event issomewhat less than the transverse dimension of the slot id formed in endpanel 30. The length of slot 66 is preferably such as to extend the fullwidth of the panel 32 and for a short distance into the flaps 36 and 37at its opposite ends. As will be more clearly set forth below, theportion of panel 32 which is bounded by edges 51 and 52 and fold lines22 and 23 constitutes the carrying handle 69 of the carton constructedaccording to the invention.

In order to impart increased strength to the handle 69 constructed asabove described, a relatively narrow reinforcing tape 62 is applied toone of its Surfaces. This reinforcement is preferably provided byso-called rayon tape, consisting of adhered adjoining strands or rovingsof rayon. This tape may be applied to the outer surface of the blankfrom which the carton is formed, and may extend fully across the widthof panel 32 and flaps 36, 37. If desired, however, the reinforcing tapemay be applied to the inner surface of the carton blank.

When the carton blank formed as shown in FIG. 1 is folded into the flattubular form illustrated in FIG. 2 for shipment to the user, thepartially overlapping end panels 39 and 3'2. may be glued along theirconfronting surfaces, as by means of a film of glue, indicated by thestippling 65 in FIG. 1, applied to the portion of the inner surface ofpanel 39 and its flaps 3d, 35 which will overlap pane 32 and its flaps35, 37.

The thus folded and glued tubular form of the carton may ber erectedinto set-up position in the conventional manner. It is an importantfeature of the handle construction of the present invention that in theoperation of erecting the carton, upon opening the carton from its flatfolded form and folding inwardly the partially overlapped and glued pairof flaps 34, 36 and the similar opposite pair of flaps 35, 37, thehandle number 69 automatically flexes upwardly so as to bow or arch upthrough the slot 46, as depicted in FIG. 6.

With the conventional grades of paperboard, such as corrugated board,used in the manufacture of shipping cartons, and with suitabledimensioning of the handle member 60 and opening it such as abovestated, the flexing and upward bowing of the handle member in the mannerdescribed will be sufficient to cause it to assume a position such asillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, so as thereby to enable it to be readilygrasped by the fingers of a person, for picking up and carrying thecarton and its contents.

Moreover, by reason of the construction described, wherein the handlemember constitutes a portion of the overlapped panel 32 in the foldedand glued, flat tubular form of the carton, and wherein the overlappingpanel 3% is glued to panel 32 throughout the area of their confrontingsurfaces, there are present no annoying extensions or ungluedoverlapping margins which can catch on parts or otherwise interfere withthe working of machinery conventional y used by packers for conveyingand erecting he cartons for filling and closing.

Furthermore, while the carton with the handle construction hereindescribed may be shipped flat in its folded tubular form, the handlemember is constructed so as to be readily recognized as a handle for usein picking up and carrying the carton and its contents.

Although the invention ias herein been described and illustrated ashaving the handle construction formed as part of the panels which makeup one of the pair of relatively short walls of a rectangular carton, itwill be apparcut to those skilled in the art that this handleconstruction may, if desired, be formed as part of the panels which makeup one of the pair of long walls of such a carton.

What we claim 1s:

1. A paperboard carton, comprising a bottom wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls hinged at opposite sides of said bottom wall, inwardly folded endflaps hinged to opposite ends of said bottom wall and to opposite endsof said side walls, an end panel hinged to each of said side walls atthe end thereof opposite said bottom wall, said end panels beingpartially overlapped and forming the top wall of the carton, inwardlyfolded flaps hinged at opposite ends of each of said end panels, theoverlapping one of said end panels having a relatively wide elongatedopening, said opening extending transversely of said overlapping endpanel, the overlapped one of said end panels being formed with arelatively elongated narrow opening extending transversely of saidoverlapped panel and defining one longitudinal edge of a handle memberwhose opposite longitudinal edge is defined by the outer terminal edgeof said overlapped panel, the transverse dimension of said handle memberbeing less than the width of said firstnamed opening, said overlappedend panel being glued to said overlapping panel throughout the area oftheir confronting surfaces.

2. A paperboard carton as defined in claim 1, wherein said carryinghandle is provided with a reinforcing tape material glued to one of thesurfaces thereof.

3. A paperboard carton as defined in claim 1, wherein said openingsextend the full width of the respective panels in which they are formed.

4. A paperboard carton comprising a bottom wall, a top Wall and a pairof side walls, each of said walls having inwardly folding fiaps, saidtop wall being composed of a pair of panels hinged to one end of saidpair of side walls, one of said panels partially overlapping the otherthereof, said overlapping panel having an elongated, relatively wideopening formed therein, the overlapped panel having an opening thereinto define a marginal portion along its outer end, said marginal portionbeing of a width less than that of said first-named opening, wherebywhen said flaps of said top wall are folded inwardly, said marginalportion will be caused to flex and bow upwardly through said first-namedopening and form a handle for grasping by the fingers to lift and carrysaid carton.

5. A flat, tubular-folded paperboard carton blank, comprising a bottomwall panel, a side wall panel hinged to said bottom wall at each of itsopposite sides, inwardly foldablc flaps hinged to opposite ends of saidbottom wall panel, inwardly foldable flaps hinged to opposite ends ofeach of said side wall panels, an end panel hinged to each of said sidewall panels at the end thereof opposite said bottom wall panel, saidpanels being folded along said hinges into fiat, tubular form, with oneof said end panels partially overlapping the other of said end panels,an inwardly foldable flap hinged at each opposite end of each of saidend panels, the overlapped one of said end panels having a relativelyelongated, narrow slot formed therein to define a marginal portion atits outer end, the overlapping one of said end panels being formed withan elongated opening of a width greater than that of said marginalportion of said overlapped end panel, said marginal portion beingadapted to bow up through said lastnarned opening when the flaps on saidend panels are folded inwardly.

6. A flat, tubular-folded paperboard carton blank as defined in claim 5and having a relatively narrow tape of reinforcing material aifixed toone of the surfaces of said marginal portion of said overlapped panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LindDec. 26, 1944 Bullock Sept. 20, 1949 Collura Oct. 11, 1960 Anderson May30, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No3 O76 59l February 5 1963 Jay H Nute et al It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the'grant lines 2 and 3 for "assignors to The Patent and LicensingCorporation of New York N, Ya a corporation of Massachusetts read emassignors by mesne assignments to The Flintkote Company a corporation ofMassachusetts line 12 for "The Patent and Licensing Corporation itssuccessors" read The Flintkote Company its successors in the heading tothe printed specification lines 3 to 5 for assignors to The PatentLicensing Corporation New York Na Y, a corporation of Massachusetts"read assignors by mesne assignments to The Flintkote Company acorporation of Massachusetts Signed and sealed this 1st day of October19630 (SEAL) ZXttest:

ERNFST WQSWUDEB. DA1UI)L.LADD

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

1. A PAPERBOARD CARTON, COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL, A PAIR OF OPPOSED SIDEWALLS HINGED AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BOTTOM WALL, INWARDLY FOLDED ENDFLAPS HINGED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BOTTOM WALL AND TO OPPOSITE ENDSOF SAID SIDE WALLS, AN END PANEL HINGED TO EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS ATTHE END THEREOF OPPOSITE SAID BOTTOM WALL, SAID END PANELS BEINGPARTIALLY OVERLAPPED AND FORMING THE TOP WALL OF THE CARTON, INWARDLYFOLDED FLAPS HINGED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID END PANELS, THEOVERLAPPING ONE OF SAID END PANELS HAVING A RELATIVELY WIDE ELONGATEDOPENING, SAID OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID OVERLAPPING ENDPANEL, THE OVERLAPPED ONE OF SAID END PANELS BEING FORMED WITH ARELATIVELY ELONGATED NARROW OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAIDOVERLAPPED PANEL AND DEFINING ONE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OF A HANDLE MEMBERWHOSE OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGE IS DEFINED BY THE OUTER TERMINAL EDGEOF SAID OVERLAPPED PANEL, THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSION OF SAID HANDLE MEMBERBEING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF SAID FIRSTNAMED OPENING, SAID OVERLAPPEDEND PANEL BEING GLUED TO SAID OVERLAPPING PANEL THROUGHOUT THE AREA OFTHEIR CONFRONTING SURFACES.